How to spot a fake human hair weave or wig

‘Fake it ‘til you make it,’ is the mantra many weave and wig wearers go by.

If you’re new to this, the world of hair extensions, wigs and weaves can be overwhelming. With so many brands and companies offering you the same thing, making a decision and finding exactly what you want is exhausting.

There are tons of online stores and physical shops where you can buy hair today. With the growth of social media we are able to reach more suppliers than ever.

When it comes to selecting human hair extensions, you need to be particularly careful. They generally cost more than synthetics so you need to get value for your money when purchasing one.

If you’re having trouble separating the real from the fake, we have some great tips that should help you differentiate the two.

One of the most reliable ways to avoid getting duped is doing your own investigation. Before spending on any supplier, you should look into customer reviews and supplier reputation. The internet has paved a way for you to see what customers are saying so that you can gauge if it’s genuine or not. At the same time, you should be wary of fake reviews from people who have been paid to give positive testimonies.

If you can, consult people that you already know because they’ll be more genuine and reliable. Take your time because this will save you headaches of receiving fake extensions.

Before you buy hair from a supplier, observe it carefully. Look at the fibres or strands and spot some irregularities if there are some. Human hair that has been mixed with synthetic will have unusually thick strands inside and other irregularities. Genuine human hair will be more fine and smooth in texture while synthetics tend to be rough with thick strands. Synthetic hair also has an unnatural shine to it. Original human hair will also have a shine to it, but its more toned down and natural looking.

It is also a good idea to read the pack for more information. Some packs will indicate that the hair is part human and part synthetic. Be sure.

I know how bad this sounds but trust me, it’s not as bad as it sounds. The burn test is a popular and reliable way to spot fake human hair extensions. It’s a simple test that you can do in the comfort of your home. Take a few strands from the wig or weave and light it. If it emits a plastic like smell and rolls up into a hard ball while burning, it’s fake. If its real human hair, it’ll burn with a more natural smell. Once synthetic hair burns, it becomes hard. True human hair will disintegrate.

The next time you suspect that the extensions you bought are not real human hair, do this to find out.

Any hair whether natural or synthetic, tangles at some point. However, it’s unnatural for new 100% human hair to tangle up when you have barely used it. When you are purchasing and want to know whether it’s real, run your hands through the bundles from top to bottom. If your fingers get caught up and don’t run smoothly, you might be getting synthetic hair. Fake hair has tough synthetic fibres while natural fibres are soft; reason being the cuticles are still intact.